Letters -- Published July 31, 2014

"More than three months later, no additional officers have been hired with Measure A money. That's to be expected."

Your statement: "That's to be expected" is not true.

In February, the budget for Measure A was adopted that included eight added police positions to be added between April 1 and June 30. It was budgeted and expected by the city that we would have eight more police positions by June 30.

It was an unpleasant surprise for me to hear at the July 15 Measure A Committee meeting that there were zero Measure A hires. I worry that part of the reason has to do with discretionary accounting decisions relating to the computation of overhead and charges to the police budget.

To date, I have not received any detailed information on this important issue. Have you?

Ned Leiba

Stockton

Chamber of Commerce CEO Doug Wilhoit is correct in his assessment of the mayor's latest blunder. Chief Eric Jones and his department do not need the mayor's input on who to hire.

At times I feel that I am being too critical of the mayor, and folks I do apologize, but his behavior makes it easy.

He seems to be in the dark. Such as when to go or not to go to an important council meeting to vote on an amendment to the city charter. When to be politically correct on endorsing future council members. When to decide to have a news conference, not after the horrific tragedy.

It always comes back to him; He wants more power, his hand are tied, he wants to really be in charge of this city.

He might really benefit from another night in his cardboard box, and I think that 2016 and his re-election cannot come soon enough.

Zelda Head

Stockton

Thank you, Mr. Cortopossi, for taking such a stand against our governor and his cronies who are lying to California citizens about our so-called "balanced budget" for our state.

Its outrageous and unfair for those politicians who govern our state to constantly feed us lies. More than likely they are putting all their brain power toward digging up the Delta, building their costly high-speed rail train using billions of our taxpayer dollars, pushing for driver's licenses for illegal immigrants and making dumb and dangerous laws for transgender individuals so they can walk into any bathroom of their choice anytime because they feel like a girl or boy that day.